Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A switch, comprising: chunking circuitry configured to maintain a local copy of a chunk comprising a plurality of media access control (MAC) addresses, wherein a respective MAC address in the local copy of the chunk is associated with an indicator indicating that the MAC address is learned at a remote switch, and wherein the switch and the remote switch are members of a network of interconnected switches; MAC synchronization circuitry configured to: obtain, from a message from the remote switch, a copy of the chunk and validation information associated with the chunk; and determine whether to update the local copy of the chunk based on the validation information from the message.
A network switch synchronizes MAC addresses with other switches in a network. It maintains a local "chunk" of MAC addresses, marking each address to show if it was learned from a remote switch. When the switch receives a message from a remote switch containing a copy of the chunk and validation data, it decides whether to update its local chunk using the validation data. The switches are interconnected and synchronize their MAC address tables.
2. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of media access control (MAC) addresses are associated with devices coupled to a virtual link aggregation group (VLAG), wherein the VLAG includes a plurality of links operating as a single logical link.
The switch from the previous MAC address synchronization description manages MAC addresses associated with devices connected to a Virtual Link Aggregation Group (VLAG). The VLAG combines multiple physical links into a single logical link. Therefore, the MAC address synchronization ensures consistent forwarding behavior across the aggregated links in the VLAG.
3. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the MAC synchronization circuitry is further configured to store a checksum with the local copy of the chunk.
The switch from the previous MAC address synchronization description also stores a checksum value calculated for the local chunk of MAC addresses. This checksum facilitates faster and more efficient detection of changes to the MAC address information. The checksum is used to validate the integrity of the MAC address data.
4. The switch of claim 3 , wherein the MAC synchronization circuitry determines whether to update the local copy of the chunk by: obtaining a checksum from the validation information; and determining whether the obtained checksum is different than the stored checksum.
The switch from the previous checksum enabled MAC address synchronization description determines whether to update its local MAC address chunk by comparing checksums. It gets a checksum from the remote switch's validation information and checks if it differs from the stored checksum of the local chunk. Only if the checksums are different does the switch consider updating its local chunk with the data from the remote switch.
5. The switch of claim 4 , wherein the MAC synchronization circuitry is further configured to: in response to determining that the obtained checksum is different than the stored checksum, construct a response message for the remote switch, wherein the response message indicates the difference; determine, based on a confirmation message from the remote switch, that the difference is not a race condition; and update the local copy of the chunk with the obtained copy of the chunk.
If the switch from the previous checksum comparison description finds a checksum difference, it sends a response message to the remote switch indicating the discrepancy. It then waits for a confirmation message from the remote switch to ensure that the difference isn't due to a race condition (simultaneous updates). If confirmed as a valid change, the switch updates its local MAC address chunk with the new data from the remote switch.
6. The switch of claim 1 , wherein updating the local copy of the chunk includes one or more of: adding entries associated with a difference between the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk; deleting entries associated with the difference between the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk; and performing no operation for entries common to the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk.
The switch from the previous MAC address synchronization description updates its local MAC address chunk in one or more ways: it adds MAC addresses that are present in the received chunk but missing in the local chunk, deletes MAC addresses that are present in the local chunk but missing in the received chunk, or does nothing for MAC addresses that are present in both chunks. This process ensures that the local MAC address table accurately reflects the network state.
7. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the message further comprises a chunk identifier, which identifies the chunk.
The message from the remote switch in the MAC address synchronization process, as previously described, includes a chunk identifier that uniquely identifies the chunk of MAC addresses being synchronized. This ID allows the switch to quickly identify and manage different chunks of MAC addresses.
8. A method, comprising: maintaining, by a switch, a local copy of a chunk comprising a plurality of media access control (MAC) addresses, wherein a respective MAC address of the chunk is associated with an indicator indicating that the MAC address is learned at a remote switch, and wherein the switch and the remote switch are members of a network of interconnected switches; obtaining, from a message from the remote switch, a copy of the chunk and validation information associated with the chunk; and determining whether to update the local copy of the chunk based on the validation information from the message.
A switch maintains a local copy of a "chunk" of MAC addresses, noting which addresses were learned from a remote switch within an interconnected network. Upon receiving a message from the remote switch containing a copy of the chunk and associated validation data, the switch determines whether to update its local copy based on that validation information. This process synchronizes MAC address tables across switches.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of media access control (MAC) addresses are associated with devices coupled to a virtual link aggregation group (VLAG), wherein the VLAG includes a plurality of links operating as a single logical link.
The method from the previous MAC address synchronization description manages MAC addresses associated with devices connected to a Virtual Link Aggregation Group (VLAG). The VLAG includes a plurality of links operating as a single logical link. Therefore, the MAC address synchronization ensures consistent forwarding behavior across the aggregated links in the VLAG.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising storing a checksum with the local copy of the chunk.
The method from the previous MAC address synchronization description includes storing a checksum with the local copy of the MAC address chunk. This checksum is used for efficient validation of the MAC address information's integrity.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether to update the local copy of the chunk comprises: obtaining a checksum from the validation information; and determining whether the obtained checksum is different than the stored checksum.
In the checksum-enabled MAC address synchronization method described before, determining whether to update the local copy of the MAC address chunk involves obtaining a checksum from the validation information sent by the remote switch and comparing it with the checksum stored locally. The local chunk is considered for update only if these checksums differ.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: in response to determining that the obtained checksum is different than the stored checksum, construct a response message for the remote switch, wherein the response message indicates the difference; determine, based on a confirmation message from the remote switch, that the difference is not a race condition; and update the local copy of the chunk with the obtained copy of the chunk.
The method, based on the previous checksum comparison, includes the following steps: if the obtained checksum is different from the stored checksum, a response message indicating the difference is sent to the remote switch. After that it waits for a confirmation message from the remote switch, to determine if the difference is not a race condition and, if confirmed, the local copy of the chunk is updated with the copy obtained from the remote switch.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein updating the local copy of the chunk includes one or more of: adding entries associated with a difference between the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk; deleting entries associated with the difference between the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk; and performing no operation for entries common to the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk.
The method, which implements MAC address synchronization, specifies that updating the local copy of the chunk includes adding entries present in the remote chunk but missing locally, deleting entries present locally but missing in the remote chunk, or doing nothing for entries common to both. This ensures accurate MAC address table maintenance.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the message further comprises a chunk identifier, which identifies the chunk.
The method for MAC address synchronization, as previously described, involves a message that includes a chunk identifier to identify the chunk being synchronized.
15. A computing system, comprising: a processor; and a storage device storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising: maintaining, by a switch, a local copy of a chunk comprising a plurality of media access control (MAC) addresses, wherein a respective MAC address of in the local copy the chunk is associated with an indicator indicating that the MAC address is learned at a remote switch, and wherein the switch and the remote switch are members of a network of interconnected switches; obtaining, from a message from the remote switch, a copy of the chunk and validation information associated with the chunk; and determining whether to update the local copy of the chunk based on the validation information from the message.
A computing system for MAC address synchronization in a network switch includes a processor and storage. The storage contains instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to maintain a local copy of a MAC address "chunk" (flagging addresses learned remotely), receive a chunk copy and validation data from another switch, and decide whether to update the local chunk based on the validation information. This aligns MAC tables across connected switches.
16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises storing a checksum with the local copy of the chunk.
The computing system from the previous MAC address synchronization description stores a checksum with the local copy of the MAC address chunk.
17. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein determining whether to update the local copy of the chunk comprises: obtaining a checksum from the validation information; and determining whether the obtained checksum is different than the stored checksum.
The computing system described previously updates a local MAC address chunk by first obtaining a checksum from validation information received from a remote switch and then comparing it to a locally stored checksum. If the checksums differ, an update is considered.
18. The computing system of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises: in response to determining that the obtained checksum is different than the stored checksum, construct a response message for the remote switch, wherein the response message indicates the difference; determine, based on a confirmation message from the remote switch, that the difference is not a race condition; and update the local copy of the chunk with the obtained copy of the chunk.
In the computing system that compares checksums for MAC address synchronization, if the received and stored checksums differ, the system sends a response to the remote switch indicating the difference, determines (based on remote confirmation) if it is not a race condition, and updates the local MAC address chunk with the remote chunk.
19. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein updating the local copy of the chunk includes one or more of: adding entries associated with a difference between the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk; deleting entries associated with the difference between the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk; and performing no operation for entries common to the local copy of the chunk and the obtained copy of the chunk.
The computing system that synchronizes MAC addresses updates a local chunk by adding entries that differ between the remote and local chunks, deleting entries that differ, or doing nothing for entries that are the same.
20. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the message further comprises a chunk identifier, which identifies the chunk.
A computing system processes data by dividing it into chunks and transmitting messages containing these chunks. Each message includes a chunk identifier that uniquely identifies the chunk within the data. The system ensures reliable data transfer by tracking the transmission and receipt of these chunks, allowing for error detection and recovery. The chunk identifier enables the system to manage and verify the integrity of the data as it is transmitted, ensuring that all parts of the data are correctly received and reassembled. This approach is particularly useful in environments where data must be transmitted reliably over potentially unreliable networks, such as in distributed computing or cloud storage systems. The system may also include mechanisms to handle lost or corrupted chunks by retransmitting them, ensuring complete and accurate data delivery. The chunk identifier allows the system to distinguish between different chunks, preventing misalignment or errors during reassembly. This method improves data transfer efficiency and reliability by ensuring that all transmitted data is accounted for and correctly processed.
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September 26, 2017
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